Britain has entered the Iran conflict for the first time after a Royal Air Force Typhoon jet shot down an Iranian drone heading towards Qatar on 1 March 2026. The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the action, marking a significant shift in Britain's position—having previously stated it was not involved in the initial strikes carried out by the US and Israel that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February.
The MoD said in a statement: 'On 1 March 2026, a Royal Air Force Typhoon operating from Qatar as part of the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon Squadron successfully took out an Iranian drone heading towards Qatari territory. The Typhoon jet was conducting a defensive air patrol and used an air-to-air missile to shoot down the drone, ensuring the security of Qatar's airspace and British interests in the region. Our Armed Forces are playing a vital role to protect our people, our interests and our Allies.'
